Terrelle Pryor Would Not Be First Successful WR Switch

Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (87) runs the ball during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of people really seemed shocked when the announcement came down that Terrell Pryor, the former All-American quarterback from Ohio State who spent his first four seasons in the NFL as one, decided to switch to wide receiver.

Terrelle Pryor’s making a good first impression on Browns coaches as he learns to play wide receiver http://t.co/rkMyHdYte1
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 3, 2015

Sure, position switches are never easy but some are making it out like Pryor is the first to ever do this. In fact, there is a very long list of successful wide receivers who were quarterbacks earlier in their football careers. Here is just a few names that should garner plenty of memories.

Drew Pearson
Hines Ward
Marty Booker
Freddie Solomon
Curtis Conway
Anquan Boldin

Most of those guys were Pro Bowl players and still don’t have the complete skill set that Pryor does. He stands a lengthy 6’5″, making him an inviting big target and also clocked 40-yard dash times between 4.4 and 4.3 seconds. So not only will defensive backs have to deal with his size, but also his ability to get behind them on vertical routes. Never mind the gadget possibilities with end-arounds and flea flicker passes given his quarterback background.

All it takes, as it did with the others, is some time mixed with patience and hard work. After that it’s all about whether Pryor has the concentration and hands to make NFL caliber catches. Regardless, the Cleveland Browns had plenty of good reasons to explore this avenue.

If nothing else, mostly it’s because history says it can work.

Next: NFL Training Camp: Quarterback Battle Progress Reports

More from NFL Mocks

Home/NFL News